Spring-hinge.



E. BOMMER.

SPRING HINGE. APP-LIUATION FILED MAY 2, 1914.

' xXX E rens C0 PHOTO LITHO., WASHING IGN D C UNITED sTATEs PAE oEEioE.

EMIL BOMMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRING-HINGE.

Application filed May 2, 1914.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EMIL BOMMER, a citi- Zen of the United States of America, and resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring- Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved spring-hinge of that type known as floor spring-hinges, in which the hinge-frame is fastened to the lower corner of the door and its socket-connection is fastened to the floor below the hinge and operates in connection with a socket in the upper corner of the door connecting with a pivot in the doorcasing above.

The invention has for its object to pro-4 vide an improved spring-hinge normally to hold the door in closed position, but to hold the door back yieldingly when opened beyond an arc of 90 degrees; and has the further object to provide a very simple and inexpensive means to throw the springaction of the hinge entirely out of operation u ntil required again to be thrown'into operation, and finally, as a further object, to provide an effective means of adjustment with a sufficiently large radius of action for correcting errors in alinement made when the hinge is fitted to the door.

One embodiment carrying out these objects of the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing and will be more 'fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims. l

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side-view of a part of a door and a part of a door-casing and floor, showing a horif zontal type of Hoor spring-liinge applied t o the door and to the floor, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a similar section, but with the door opened to a position slightly beyond 90de-v grees to that shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is' a vertical section taken on line 1 -4 of Fig. 2, showing the ball-bearings in elevation, Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, also showing the ball-bearings in elevation, Fig. 6 is an enlarged view Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

sei-iai No. 835,887.

of a part of the mechanism which shows the adjustability of the parts, Fig. 7 shows a vertical section, showing the inclined plate for holding the balls, and Fig. 8 is a view of the bearing member with the alinement mechanism omitted.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, a part of the door'is shown therein, which is indicated by 10, and a part of the doorframe 11 and a part of the fioor 1la is also shown therein. At one corner of the door 10 a cut-out portion 12 is provided, into which the hinge-frame, containing the mechanism necessary for the operation of the floor spring-hinge, is housed. After the hinge-frame is installed, side-plates 13, preferably with beveled edge 14, are arranged at either side of the door 10 and are suitably secured thereto by suitable fastening means, as screws and the like.

he floor hinge proper is arranged within a hinge-frame consisting of a lower horizontal member 19 having a perforation for the lower shaft or spindle 26, and a rigidly connected reinforcingsplate G9 which has a corresponding perforation aiid a projection of a certain inclination. rflie member 19 also has two upward right-angle end-extensions 17 and 18 of different length, and also has two upward side-extensions or guide-plates 53 and 53a. |The floor hinge-frame further consists of an upper horizontal member 15 having a perforation for the upper shaft or spindle 25, and two downward side-extensions or guide-plates 52 and 52a, shown clearly in Fig. l. The extension 17 of member 19 has preferably two screw-holes 16 near one end for fastening to the door and a recess 17a engaged by a projection 15a of the member 15 below said screw-holes. The vertical member 18 has an opening 36 for the horizontal rod 36, and a projection 18a engaging a recess 18b in the horizontal member 15.

The member 15 has at one end preferably one screw-hole 16a for fastening it to the door by means of the screw 16. The projections 18a and 15L and recesses 172L and 18b of the members 19 and 15 intermesh and are preferably upset or riveted rigidly together. Vithin this frame is arranged a stationary roller-bearing frame 20, which is substantially of U-shape, having a vertical support 21 and two horizontal flanges 22 and 23, between which the shafts or axles 32 and 33, supporting rollers 30 and 31, are arranged. These rollers serve to guide the curved face of the bearing member 34V in relation to the faces of the rollers 30 and 31. The horizontal members 22 and 23 are also provided with projections 25 and 26, which serve as shafts or bearings upon which the hinge-frame rotates when the door is operated.y The lower shaft-projection or bearing-spindle 26 terminates below its round bearing-portion in a squared lower end-portion which passes downward through the perforations of member 19 and its reinforcing-plate 69, and also through the correspondingly-squared socket formed in the floor-plate 28, and its cupped reinforcing plate 67 which is rigidly connected with the floor-plate by riveting and thelike. rIhe squared lower end of the lower shaft 26 is preferably rigidly upset or otherwise nonrotatably connected, as indicated at 26a. The floor socket-plate 28 is secured to the floor 11 by screws 29, or, in the` case of cement or tile floors, to an angle-plate which is secured to the door-casing, but as this is well known and not claimed, it is not shown in the drawings.

Contacting with the vertical faces of the spaced rollers 30 and 31 is a bearing member 34, which has a curved face of a length larger than the distance between the centers of the two spaced rollers 30 and 31, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. Between the curved face of the bearing member 34 and its forward-extension 35 is arranged an oblong slot 34a into which the preferably squared central portion of the shaft 65 is movably fitted. To the forward-extension 35 of the bearing member 34 is secured, preferably by means of a driving lit into a corresponding hole, or by means of screw-threaded engagement, a horizontal rod 36, the free end of which passes through the opening 36L of the vertical member 18. Adjacent to the extension 35, and movable on the screw-threaded end of the horizontal bar 36, Vis an adjusting-sleeve 39 provided with openings 40 adapted to be engaged by a nail or suitable tool for the purpose of rotating it around the rod 36. Interposed between the rotatable adjusting-sleeve 39 and the vertical member 18 is a coil-spring 41, the tension of which is governed by the distance between the adjusting-sleeve 39 and the vertical member 18.

The bearing member 34 is also provided with a Hat roller 50 above the same, and another fiat roller 51 below the same, which rollers 50 and 51 have a diameter substantially equal to the distance between vertical guide-plates 52, 52a and 53, 53, which are arranged alongside of the horizontal niembers 15 and 19. rEhese rollers 50 and 51 slidingly contact with these guide-plates 52, 52u and 53, 53a, and these guide-'plates 52, 52LL and 53, 53a serve to guide the movement of these rollers. The square central portion of the shaft 65 is approximately of a length equal to the thickness of the bearing member 34 and has two rounded end-portions extending respectively above and below the square portion, which serve as axles or bearings on which the fiat rollers 50 and 51 are rotatably mounted.V rl'he rollers 50 and 51 are kept in place on the rounded endportions of the shaft 65 by the proximity of the lower member 19 and the upper member 15 of the hinge-frame. The bearing member 34 is also provided with screwthreaded sockets 58 and 59, which are engaged by screw-threaded plugs 60 and 61, having slots 62, to enable the same tobe rotated by a screwdriver or similar tool. The inner ends of the plugs 60 and 61 abut against and contact with the central portion of the shaft 65. By the rotation of the plugs 60 and 61, the bearing member 34 may be moved in its position in respect to the shaft 65. This bearing member 34 is always guided longitudinally in central alinement with the hinge-frame by the rolling contact of the rollers 50 and 51 with the vertical guide-plates 52, 52a and 53, 53a of the horizontal members 15 and 19. rlhe bearing surface 66 of the bearing member 34 may thus be shifted transversely in position in respect to the spaced rollers 30 and 31 by the plugs 60 and 61. By the shifting of position of this bearing member 34, with its bearing-surface 66, and the pressure of the spring 41, it is quite clear that the longitudinal alinement of the door 10 itself may be moved or centered, if necessary, .to correctl any error in alinement after the fioor hinge is fastened in place on the door.

It will be noted in this arrangement of parts, that the stationary roller-bearing frame 20 with the rollers 30 and 31, arranged around the shafts 32 and 33, always remains in a fixed position, although the rollers themselves are rotatable; that the shaft is arranged in fixed central alinement by the contact of the flat rollers 5() and 51 with their guide-plates 52, 52a and 53, 53, and that while it may move longitudinally, it can not move transversely, and that the opening 36a of the plate 18 is in fixed position, transversely in respect to the door. Hence these three points, the shafts 25 and 26, the shaft 65 and the opening 36a, must always maintain correct alinement in relation to each other, and in a transverse direction be fixed. The change of alinement of the door in respect to its frame results from the shifting of the bearing-surface 66 in respect to the spaced rollers 30 and 31 as described, these three points, however, always remaining transversely fixed.

The lower shaft-projection or bearingspindle 26 of the stationary roller-bearing frame 2O extends, as stated, through the hinge-frame member 19 and the reinforcingplate 69. This plate 69 has a lower conical projection, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, which provides a longer bearing for the shaft 26 and serves at the same time to retain the balls 68 in position in the ball-cup 67 which is riveted to the fioor-plate 28 by rivets 28a., thereby forming a ball-bearing. Thus, by the coperation of these parts, a very smooth running, well centered fioor hinge is provided. The cup 67 also serves to retain oil or other lubricating material after the same has passed through and lubricated the bearings of the hinge.

Wlhen it is desired to disengage the springaction of the hinge and enable the door t0 be used without any spring-action, the door Vis opened, thereby compressing the spring 41 and causing the inner face of the lug 34", which is preferably arranged at the underside of the bearing member 34, to advance sufficiently beyond the outward edges 53h, 53c of the guide-plates 53, and 53- of member 19, so that a nail or piece of wire, etc., can be inserted into the space between the lug 342L of the bearing member and the edges 53b and 53c of the guide-plates 53 and 53a. This position is clearly shown in Fig. 3. By thus inserting a nail or the like, the spring is locked in compressed position and the spring-action is disengaged from the hinge by permanently separating the curved face of the bearing member 34 from contact with the spaced rollers 30 and 31. When the nail is withdrawn, the spring-action is again restored to the door. The side-plates 13 may and preferably do have holes 70, shown in Fig. 5, correctly located so the nail can be inserted or withdrawn from the outside of the side-plate when the door is in position permitting this to be done.

lVhen the door is moved beyond 90, as shown in Fig. 3, then it will remain in open position, in view of the pressure exerted by the parts, and the arrangement of the parts in respect to each other. So it will be seen, that the bearing surface presses on the roller 31, and that the line passing through the rollers 31 and 30 at an angle with the line of the rod, for instance, the pressure thus exerted by the spring on the bearing member and on the roller 31 will maintain the door in open position.

When it is desired for the sake of economy or for any other reason, to dispense with the means for adjusting the door alinement, the screw-threaded sockets 58 and 59 with their screw-threaded plugs 60 and 61, and the square shaft 65, all being parts of the bearing member 34 can be omitted, and a round pin-shaft or shaft-projection cast integral with the bearing member 34 at the upper and lower sides thereof which serves as bearings for the fiat rollers 50 and 51, as shown at 75, Fig. 8, can be used.

'I' he invention has been described, but it is quite clear that it lends itself to different embodiments and modifications. S0, the lug 341 at the underside of the bearing member 34, for instance, could, instead, be arranged at the upper side thereof, or two lugs, one at the upper and one at the underside, could be provided, or guide-plates on only one member of the hinge-frame instead of at both members would suffice, with only one instead of two fiat rollers in engagement therewith, or the spring-action disengaging means, nail, or rod could be inserted between the flat rollers and any other projection of the hinge-frame, or between one or both of the flat-rollers and a suitably placed hole or notch of the guide-plates, without changing this salient feature of this invention. Where'preferable, as for instance, in the case of cement or tile floors, the floor socketconnection of the hinge, instead of being fastened direct to the fioor, may be fastened to an angle-plate resting on the floor and attached to the door-casing. The entire outfit may also be inverted, if preferred, but it is herein described as in normal position.

I have shown an embodiment of my invention, but changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spring-hinge, comprsing a fixed member, spaced rollers supported thereby, a transversely-fixed shaft, a bearing member movable transversely in respect to the fixed shaft and contacting with the spaced rollers, a fixed member having an opening, a springactuated rod extending from the bearing member and passing through the opening of the fixed member, and means for moving the bearing member transversely in respect to the shaft, while maintaining a transversely-fixed position of the fixed member, bearing-member shaft and fixed guide member.

2. A spring-hinge, comprising a fixed member having spaced rollers, a transverselyfixed shaft, a fixed guide member, a bearing member having an opening of larger size than the size of the fixed shaft and having a rod extending through the fixed guide member, and screw-threaded plugs for the bearing' member and coperating with the xed shaft for adjusting the bearing-surface of the bearing member in relation to the spaced rollers when the hinge is not in operation.

3. A spring-hinge, comprising a frame, a U-vshaped member for the frame, said U- shaped member having a shaft extending upwardly into the frame and having a shaft extending downwardly into the frame, spaced rollers supported by the U-shaped member, a bearing member coperating with the spaced rollers, guide-rollers carried by the bearing member, guide-plates on the frame for guiding the guide-rollers of the bearing member, means for changing` the position of the bearing member in respect to the spaced rollers, and means for maintaining in xed transverse position the guiderollers and one end of the bearing member.

4L. A spring-hinge, comprising a' frame, spaced rollers supported Awithin said frame,

.1 La bearing member coacting with the spaced rollers, guide-plates arranged along the path of movement of the bearing member, and means for engaging the guide-plates and the bearing member for locking the bearing g member in inoperative position.

5. A spring-hinge, comprising a frame, spaced rollers supported within said frame, a spring-actuated bearing member, guideplates on the frame, guide-rollers on said bearing member adapted to slide in said guide-plates, said member being adapted to contact with both spaced rollers when the door is in its closed position and adapted to contact with only one of the rollers when the i door is in its open position, the spring-actuated and guided bearing member when in the last-named position pressing on one of the rollers in a manner to prevent the independent change of position of the door to its first position.

6. In a spring-hinge, the combination of a fixed member, a movable member, spaced vertical rollers carried by said fixed member, horizontal rollers carried by said movable member, and guide-plates for guiding the horizontal rollers toward and Lfrom the vertical rollers.

7. In a spring-hinge,spaced rollers,a bearing member coperating with said rollers, said bearing member having a transverse recess or slot, a squared shaft in said recess 01 slot smaller than said recess or slot, the ends of said shaft being circular, fiat rollers on said ends, guide members for said fiat rollers, and means for moving said bearing member transversely in respect to said shaft.

8. In a spring-hinge, spaced rollers supported perpendicularly within said hinge, a spring actuated bearing member coperating with said rollers, and adapted to move hori' zontally, a lug on said bearing member, guide-plates for the bearing member, and means coperating with said guide-plates for holding the bearing member and lug in a position in respect 'to the guide-plates.

9. In a spring-hinge, a fixed member, a transversely fixed shaft, a horizontally movable bearing member provided with a passage of greater width than said shaft, and

f means within said bearing member coperating with the said shaft adapted to change the alinement of the bearing member.

10. An improved spring-hinge, comprising fixed vertical shafts in spaced relation,

rollers carried by said shafts, xed guide-V said shaft for transversely adjusting said bearing member with relation to the spaced vertical rollers.

11. In a spring-hinge, fixed spacedrollers, a bearing member having an opening and adapted to be operated byvsaid spaced rollers, a shaft passing through the opening,

guide-rollers on the ends of the shaft, means Y for guiding the rollers permitting longitudinal movement but preventing transverse movement, and means for shifting the bearing member transversely in respect to the shaft.

12. In a spring-hinge, fixed spaced rollers, a bearing member having an opening and adapted to be operated by said spaced rollers, a shaft passing through the opening, guide-rollers on the ends of the shaft, means for guiding the rollers permitting longitudinal movement but preventing transverse movement, and screw-threaded plugs engaging the bearing member and the shaft, the varying respective position of which changes the position of the bearing member in respect to the shaft.

13. In a spring-hinge, bearing-rollers, a bearing member coperating therewith, spring-actuated means for causing Contact of the bearing member with the rollers, and means operable from either side of the door for holding the bearing member out of engagement with the rollersV until the said means is removed.

14. In a spring-hinge, a hinge-frame having guide-plates, a spring-actuated bearing member having a lug, the lug being horizontally movable so that it will clear the front-edges of the guides when the spring is compressed, and means interposed between the outer faces of the side guide-plates and the lug of the said bearing member for retaining the spring in compressed position until the said means are withdrawn.

15. In a spring-hinge, a hinge frame hav- Y member provided with a transversely fixed In testimony, that I claim the foregoing shaft and having a lug, iat rollers on the as my invention, I have signed my name in 10 ends of said shaft, said bearing member bepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

ing horizontally movable between said guide-plates, and means interposed between EMIL BOMMER said guide-plates and the said bearing mem- Witnesses:

ber for retaining the spring in compressed C. P. GOEPEL,

position until the said means are Withdrawn. Jos. BISBANO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

